Name:
Barrow, William
Date of Booking:
03/30/2024
Reason(s) For Booking:
DUI LESS SAFE DRIVER
HIT AND RUN; DUTY OF DRIVER TO STOP AT OR RETURN TO SCENE OF ACCIDENT
DRIVING W/OUT LICENSE ON PERSON
Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]
On 03/30/2024 at 0227 hrs, I responded to the Demere Roundabout in reference to a possibly intoxicated driver who had been involved in a hit-and-run accident.
I arrived on scene and made contact with Ofc Depp, who informed me that he heard tires screeching followed by two loud noises that sounded like vehicles colliding. When he investigated the sound, he witnessed a blueish-gold Lexus leaving the accident scene. Ofc Depp advised me that Ofc Davis had located the vehicle a short distance from the accident scene.
Ofc Davis was waiting with an individual he had identified as Mr. William Barrow. I spoke with Ofc Davis, who informed me that he had witnessed Mr. Barrow walking around a blueish silver Lexus CT200H (ga tag [REDACTED]) and inspecting it for damage shortly after Ofc Depp advised that he had seen a vehicle matching its description fleeing the scene of an accident. While waiting for me to arrive, he smelt the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from Mr. Barrow’s person. Ofc Davis also indicated that Mr. Barrow appeared to be unsteady on his feet.
While speaking with Ofc Davis, I could see Mr. Barrow leaning against the front of his patrol vehicle to maintain his balance. It should be noted that there was a fluid trail leading from the accident scene to where Mr. Barrow’s vehicle was located.
I spoke with Mr. Barrow, who told me he had a glass of wine at dinner with his family “a few hours ago.” Mr. Barrow stated that he knew he had struck a vehicle and asked if the occupants were ok. Mr. Barrow then said that he only kept going to find a safe place to park. While speaking with Mr. Barrow he made multiple statements to the effect of “I know I shouldn’t have been driving” and “This was a really stupid thing of me to do.”
While speaking with Mr. Barrow I smelt the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his person, I also noticed that his speech was thick and slurred.
When asked, Mr. Barrow declined field sobriety testing. Based on my observations, along with my training and experience, I believe that Mr. Barrow was under the influence of alcohol.
I ordered Mr. Barrow to turn around and place his hands behind his back; he complied and was placed in handcuffs (checked and double-locked.) He was then escorted to the rear of my patrol vehicle where a search of his person was conducted prior to being placed in my back seat.
Georgia implied consent was read from the green card for suspects over the age of 21 to which Mr. Barrow declined. Bubbas Towing responded to the scene to collect Mr. Barrow’s vehicle.
Mr. Barrow was transported to the South East Georgia Regional Health System’s Brunswick campus for clearance before being transported to the Glynn County detention center.
[End of Narrative]